Catheter and endoscope system with distal protruding ball tip and method

Abstract

A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using an endoscope and a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end and a lumen opening at the distal end and a displacing member. The method comprises advancing the catheter into the passage in the patient with the displacing member extending beyond the distal end of the catheter body when the catheter body is at a region of the passage. The endoscope is provided in the lumen of the catheter with the endoscope being movable longitudinally relative to the catheter and being at a location for viewing the interior passage. The method includes relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the displacing member and viewing at least a portion of such zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using an endoscope and a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end and a lumen opening at the distal end and a displacing member, said method comprising: advancing the catheter into the passage in the patient with the displacing member extending beyond the distal end of the catheter body when the catheter body is at a region of the passage;   providing the endoscope in the lumen of the catheter body with the endoscope being movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body;   relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the displacing member; and   viewing at least a portion of said zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope while the distal end of the catheter body and said material are relatively displaced.   
     
     
       2. A method a defined in claim 1 wherein the step of providing includes advancing the endoscope relative to the catheter body. 
     
     
       3. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of relatively displacing includes moving the catheter body relative to the endoscope. 
     
     
       4. A method as defined in claim 1 including moving the displacing member longitudinally relative to the catheter body. 
     
     
       5. A method as defined in claim 4 wherein the displacing member includes a rounded enlargement, said step of advancing the catheter body is carried out with the enlargement relatively close to the distal end of the catheter body to aid the advancing movement of the catheter body in the interior passage and the method includes moving the displacing member to move the enlargement farther distally of the distal end of the catheter body following the step of advancing the catheter. 
     
     
       6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage has a curve, the displacing member extends beyond the distal end of the catheter body when the catheter body is near the curve and including using the displacing member to at least assist in guiding the catheter body at least part way through the curve during the step of advancing the catheter. 
     
     
       7. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of displacing includes moving the displacing member longitudinally relative to the catheter body. 
     
     
       8. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of relatively displacing includes rotating the displacing member relative to the catheter body. 
     
     
       9. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage is a fallopian tube. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage is the gastrointestinal tract. 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage is a passage in the vascular system. 
     
     
       12. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage is a neural passage. 
     
     
       13. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage is an epidural passage. 
     
     
       14. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior passage is a passage in the urinary tract. 
     
     
       15. A method as defined in claim 1 including introducing at least one of a fluid and an elongated medical instrument through the lumen to the interior passage. 
     
     
       16. A method as defined in claim 1 including carrying out said step of providing before said step of advancing. 
     
     
       17. A method as defined in claim 1 including carrying out said step of providing after said step of advancing. 
     
     
       18. A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end and a lumen opening at the distal end and an elongated displacing member movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body and having a rounded enlargement, said method comprising: placing the catheter body and displacing member into the interior passage in the patient;   advancing the catheter body with the enlargement relatively close to the distal end of the catheter body to aid the advancing movement of the catheter body in the interior passage;   relatively moving the displacing member and the catheter body to move the enlargement farther distally of the distal end of the catheter body following at least a portion of the step of advancing the catheter body;   providing an endoscope in the lumen of the catheter body;   relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the displacing member; and   viewing at least a portion of said zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope while the distal end of the catheter body and said material are relatively displaced.   
     
     
       19. A method as defined in claim 18 wherein the step of advancing includes moving the catheter body over a guidewire. 
     
     
       20. A method as defined in claim 19 wherein the step of moving is carried out while guiding the enlargement over the guidewire with a longitudinally extending guiding surface of the enlargement. 
     
     
       21. A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using an endoscope and a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end and a lumen opening at the distal end and a displacing member, said method comprising: advancing the catheter into the passage in the patient with the displacing member extending beyond the distal end of the catheter body when the catheter body is at a region of the passage;   providing the endoscope along the catheter body with the endoscope being movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body;   relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the displacing member; and   viewing at least a portion of said zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope while the distal end of the catheter body and said material are relatively displaced.   
     
     
       22. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the displacing member includes a rounded enlargement which is spaced from the distal end of the catheter body from about 1 to about 6 millimeters. 
     
     
       23. A method of viewing an interior passage of a patient using an endoscope and a catheter which includes a catheter body having a distal end and a lumen opening at the distal end and an elongated resilient member, said method comprising: advancing the catheter into the passage in the patient with the resilient member extending beyond the distal end of the catheter body when the catheter body is at a region of the passage;   providing the endoscope along the catheter body with the endoscope being movable longitudinally relative to the catheter body;   relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and material within or forming the passage within a zone of the interior passage utilizing the resilient member; and   viewing at least a portion of said zone of the interior passage utilizing the endoscope while the distal end of the catheter body and said material are relatively displaced.   
     
     
       24. An apparatus for viewing an interior passage of a patient comprising: a catheter including an elongated catheter body adapted to be received in the interior passage and a displacing member, said catheter body having a distal end and a lumen extending to the distal end, said displacing member being carried by the catheter body and extending longitudinally beyond the distal end of the catheter body;   an endoscope positionable within the lumen of the catheter body, said endoscope being movable longitudinally within the lumen relative to the catheter body to a location for viewing a zone of the interior passage when the catheter body is within the interior passage; and   said displacing member being capable of contacting material within or forming the passage and relatively displacing the distal end of the catheter body and such material to facilitate viewing of said zone with the endoscope.   
     
     
       25. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the catheter body has an auxiliary lumen and the displacing member is received in the auxiliary lumen. 
     
     
       26. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 including bonding material for bonding the displacing member in the auxiliary lumen. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus as defined in claim 25 wherein the displacing member is movable in the auxiliary lumen and includes a rounded enlargement distally of the distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
       28. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the displacing member is elongated and rotatable relative to the catheter body. 
     
     
       29. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the displacing member has a distal end and portions extending in different directions such that rotation of the displacing member causes the distal end of the displacing member to sweep through an arc. 
     
     
       30. An apparatus as defined in claim 28 wherein the displacing member includes an elongated wire-like element and a rounded enlargement eccentrically mounted on the wire-like element whereby rotation of the displacing member causes the rounded enlargement to sweep through an arc. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the displacing member extends at least part way through the lumen. 
     
     
       32. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the displacing member includes an elongated wire and a sheath encasing the wire. 
     
     
       33. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the displacing member includes a rounded enlargement distally of the distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
       34. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the enlargement is spaced between about 1 to about 15 mm from the distal end of the catheter body and has a maximum cross-sectional dimension of between about 0.15 and 1.2 mm. 
     
     
       35. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the enlargement is spaced between about 1 to about 6 mm from the distal end of the catheter body. 
     
     
       36. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the enlargement has a guiding surface for cooperation with a guidewire which tends to maintain guiding contact between the enlargement and the guidewire. 
     
     
       37. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the enlargement has a longitudinally extending recess. 
     
     
       38. An apparatus as defined in claim 33 wherein the enlargement has a passage extending longitudinally through the enlargement. 
     
     
       39. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the displacing member is elongated and resilient. 
     
     
       40. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the displacing member includes a rounded enlargement for use in said step of advancing. 
     
     
       41. A method as defined in claim 21 wherein the displacing member includes a rounded enlargement which is spaced from the distal end of the catheter body about 2 millimeters. 
     
     
       42. An apparatus as defined in claim 24 wherein the displacing member includes a rounded enlargement distally of the distal end of the catheter body.